Sleep Apnea

Sorry danny, I just went all through Primes website and didn't even see the words bmi. If you could tell me where you saw that I would appreciate it.

 

here are some links to it from several sites:

Class A drivers, scroll down to the bottom of page and you will see *BMI<39 on the right above the phone number
http://www.classadrivers.com/truckingcompanies.php?Cid=2221

Here is another from Big rig driving recruiting, scroll down to the block for prime qualifications and in the medical portion in the bottom of the block you will see it, no driver with BMI of 39 need apply with a calculator
http://www.bigrigdriving.com/trucking-companies/prime-inc

Here is an article about the BMI and Prime from ask the trucker, a very good site endorsed by OOIDA
http://www.askthetrucker.com/tag/bmi/


I am sorry sir, it is on the Prime site and if you follow directions from the ask the trucker link you will find it. I can't put Prime's recruiting site on this forum with the thousands of complaints it has had on it over the years in this forum alone in the Bad trucking companies threads.

 

i don't see it there now either but it did used to be there on their medical qualifications

 

All by itself, SA, is NOT a disability, therfore wouldn't even be covered.It also is not a genetic disease as it has nothing to do w/ genes. It can't be passed down. The only way to have it is by obstruction of the airway, caused by an outside factor (ie. weight).

Begging your pardon, sir, but "caused by an outside factor" is not entirely correct.

I have OSA, and I am very overweight. My father, on the other hand (a doctor) is my height (5'6") and of normal weight. He has used CPAP for 11 years now. We also suspect his father suffered from SA, but this was prior to a rudimentary understanding of the condition. Therefore, genes can play a role in the primary cause, that being air obstruction. Size is not the only factor.

The bmi level of 39 at Prime is accurate, as I was investigating Prime as a way for me to return to trucking three years ago. The recruiter told me herself.

 

Show me one major company doing it besides Prime? I ask for just one and I will shut up. None are, many considered it but the litigation cost scared them away. I see you haven't driving long. Prime has a history of violating labor laws you wouldn't believe...they are making Opie over at truckers justice center a rich man.

 

I was just reading the articles that YOU linked to ME. Read your own D.A.M.N links

 

Maybe you ought to take your own advice... "Read all my post(s) before you start calling people rude names.."

I am none of the above, and you don't know me. I certainly don't take referral payments for bringing new-hires into Prime.

I only post from my own experience - and while YOU may have a problem with Primes' hiring criteria, I don't. BTW... since you aren't connected with Prime, why is this any business of yours at all? I expect you will get nowhere, because every business no matter what industry is allowed to "discriminate" when it comes to hiring. Just the act of hiring "candidate A" over "candidate B" is showing discriminating behavior.

As far as not hiring due to "sleep apnea" - that's not true. Its undiagnosed sleep apnea. As far as BMI is concerned, someone with a BMI of 39 for my height would have to be carrying over 275 lbs. - that's really overweight. That person would be at risk of contracting type II diabetes and its complications (we had a 27-year-old die in his truck from that last year,) not to mention hypertension, heart disease, etc. It is well within a companies' right to refuse employment over the possible inability to perform the physical tasks required by the job. You mention that you unload your own trailers - that is physical - so is throwing chains in freezing weather. I submit that someone with a BMI of 39 or greater may be at risk of a heart attack while performing both of those common duties, and thus unable to safely perform the duties required by employment. The use of BMI as a screening tool is an objective (rather than subjective) criteria, that is easily understood by an employment candidate. You wanna drive and your BMI is over 39? Easy. Loose some weight.

The BMI-screening-for-sleep-apnea connection comes from the medical review board of the FMCSA. What I have heard mostly comes from interviews I've overheard on Roaddog... and I don't really have the time to provide you with internet links. "Dr. John" interviewed by Dave Nemo and on OOIDAs Landline Now program indicated that it is a tool to identify a large cohort of drivers who may be subject to undiagnosed sleep apnea... a condition that can be fatal. "Dr. John" indicated that it in no way identifies everyone since even "skinny folks" as he said can have it - and that includes himself in that description. If Prime has decided to get ahead of the curve on sleep apnea, that's all well and good, and if they decide that a person with a BMI of over 39 may not be able to physically perform the demanding job that we share, then that's fine too. Loose some weight.

Also in this little rant of yours you make some unfounded charges over the lease program at Prime... which I notice you aren't part of. Yup, there's lots of folks who get in over their head, and can't determine that the source of their problems is with themselves. I believe you also made the allegation that Prime (Mr. Robert Low since it's a privately-held company) also owns Success Leasing. That couldn't be more untrue. There are no ownership ties between Prime and Success.

So go "smell" lawsuits all you like. And while you're at it, since you aren't connected with Prime - why don't you go mind your own business? And I really doubt the driver you mentioned was being fired over his physical condition - more than likely (since I don't know the gentleman involved) he lost his medical. No DOT medical, and even you I imagine, understand that equates to no job as a commerical driver.

 

OVer 50&#37; of truckers have a form of sleep apnea....this is a serious medical issue...something that those of you who have sleep apnea should really look into alternative methods!

 

I have sleep apnea. I have been using a CPAP machine for 10 years. When I was diagnosed my symptoms were not being tired. It was getting up 4 to 6 times a night to wis. My wife recorded my snoring. I went and got checked and had a sleep study. I sleep more sound now. I think that if you are treated and use your CPAP machine you are good to go.
I am not a truck driver yet. I have been reading about the sleep apnea with truck drivers. Without treatment it is a life threatening problem. When it is treated you are good to go. You might even have more energy to walk around a truck stop or two to get rid of some of that weight.
From talking to truck drivers and reading the articles the biggest problem I see in trucking is not sleep apnea but erratic sleep patterns. One night you go to bed at 8:00 and the next night you have to pick up a load at midnight and drive all night to make your destination. There is no set pattern or even close set pattern on sleeping. Sleep apnea or not you can't survive like that without being Dog tired all the time.
These trucking companies know this. I believe the whole problem is a political problem that big bucks are being passed under the table in the name of Sleep Apnea.

 

Its more just getting used to irregular sleep patterns in that first year or so of driving. Once your body adjusts you're fine.